Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley has tipped the Tynecastle club to challenge Celtic for the Premiership title.

No team outwith the Old Firm has won the Scottish league since Aberdeen in 1985.

However, on the back of four straight wins following their return to the top tier, Pressley claims Robbie Neilson’s side can go the distance with Celtic and Aberdeen – even comparing them to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

Former Hearts captain Steven Pressley has tipped the Tynecastle club to challenge Celtic for the title

Hearts have started the Scottish Premiership campaign with four wins from as many games

Speaking to Ladbrokes News, he said: ‘Aberdeen have progressed year on year under Derek McInnes and I expect them to be strong throughout the season.

‘But Hearts in particular have been very creative in the transfer market. They’ve plundered Europe and made some astute signings. Under the guidance of Robbie Neilson, they can be a threat.

‘Their recruitment has focused on very robust players who can deal with the physicality of the British game and that could be crucial.

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‘Like Chelsea in the Premier League under Mourinho, Hearts have built a solid foundation and they’ll be able to handle playing in the most difficult venues during the harsh winter months.

‘Sometimes you have to dig out those 1-0 wins on poor playing surfaces. Pitches deteriorate in Scotland far more than south of the border and you need a side that can deal with that.

‘Even before the start of the season I really believed Hearts can go the distance. There’s an energy and belief coming from the club that’s infectious.’

On the back of a 100 per cent record following promotion from the Championship, the Gorgie side have shown a clinical ability to see out games.

Matches against Partick Thistle, Hamilton and Scottish Cup holders Inverness precede a double header against Aberdeen and Celtic in September expected to test their credentials to the maximum.

Celtic players James Forrest (left) and Nadir Ciftci (right) in action against Malmo on Wednesday

Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson in training at Tynecastle as his side have made a perfect start

Expressing admiration for the job done by coach Neilson and director of football Craig Levein, Pressley added: ‘Robbie is a friend of mine and so is the chief scout. Every single person at Tynecastle is pulling in the right direction and that’s clear for all to see.

‘Will their results against Celtic decide where the league title ends up? I don’ t think so.

‘It’s about taking care of the other teams and Hearts have done that in their opening four games.

‘Their title challenge will come from being consistent over the course of the campaign.

‘Irrespective of whether Celtic get through to the Champions League group stages, they’ll be pushed all the way.’

Jim Jefferies, meanwhile, has set a more modest target – tipping his former club to secure a top-four finish.

‘I can’t see Hearts not being in the top half. In fact, I’d say minimum top four. There isn’t a great amount between the teams and I think they could even challenge Aberdeen for second place.

‘We’ll really get an idea of what they can achieve this season after the back-to-back games against Aberdeen and Celtic. If they ended up with two defeats then you’d have to ask how they’d react.

‘They’ve had four wins on the trot already and you’d expect them to beat Partick at home to make it five. They’ll be setting out to match George Burley’ s side’s run of eight on the spin.

‘Hearts are still a relatively young side even if they have Gomis and Buaben. The rest are either new to the Premiership or young but they’re doing well. Winning, like losing, is a habit.’